Sociologist at the University of Indonesia Dr Imam Prasodjo at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday. (30/3/2020). ANTARA/HO-BNPB

Sociologist at the University of Indonesia Dr. Imam Prasodjo believes that Indonesia’s invaluable wealth, specifically the cultural capital, makes communication diverse and creative.

"Among Indonesia's wealth, which is a treasure trove, is the cultural capital. Emotional capital, which fs utilized to the fullest, will promote diverse and creative ways of communication," Prasodjo remarked at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.

The sociologist noted that several short videos on COVID-19 prevention, uploaded on the internet, are emblematic of the public’s creativity. How people communicate becomes part of entertainment but can also be understood through the medium of entertainment.

"This is my imagination. In a disaster situation such as today, we can still maintain happiness and psychological health and well-being. Creativity, although at home, can be showcased everywhere. We can display it through social media," he expounded.

Prasodjo noted that Indonesian people were brimming with typical jokes. Short videos being widely circulated on social media, in addition to delivering messages, were also cheerful and entertaining.

"The message was delivered in a lighter vein. Not only watched it once but many times since it brought happiness to those who watched," he revealed.

Furthermore, it was sung in the local language that increased the vocabulary. Prasodjo believes that Indonesia has several creative and innovative people.

"If the local government facilitates them, creative ideas will emerge that are quite unique and useful and will convey messages to the public on the dangers of COVID-19," he stated.

Appeals and information must be followed up with creative actions. Prasodjo pointed out that Indonesia had several diverse indigenous and religious communities that can also be involved in real terms. (ANTARA)

APEC's illustration for life-saving products during COVID-19 pandemic. In many places, medical equipment, medicines and basic protective items are both critical and in severe shortage. (APEC Secretariat)

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic of colossal magnitude that has impacted the health and safety of billions and has long-term economic and social repercussions.

This challenging scenario is a time for APEC economies to relook the trade policy response to ensure that it supports health systems across the region.

Taking into account that the trade policy is a tool for fighting the pandemic, Director of the APEC Policy Support Unit Denis Hew suggested that it is time for countries to lift export bans and lower barriers on medical goods.

"Saving lives is, of course, the most pressing priority right now. Finding innovative economic solutions to this dilemma cannot wait until the lockdowns are lifted and the health crisis abates," Hew noted in a written statement issued by the APEC Policy Support Unit and received by Antara News Agendy, in Jakarta, on Thursday.

The private sector has urged APEC to do more. In late March, the APEC Business Advisory Council, representing Asia-Pacific’s business community, wrote to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin of Malaysia, the APEC chair for 2020, to seek region-wide collaboration to combat the health impacts and mitigate the economic consequences of the pandemic.

The business community called for multilateral action to help contain the spread of COVID-19 through driving information exchange, aligning health systems, and enabling travel for essential health workers to the required locations.

"Notably, the council pointed to gaps in the trade policy that, if addressed, would greatly contribute to managing the health crisis. They highlighted that restrictions still exist in terms of the export of medical equipment, medicines, and basic protective items, which are both critical and in severe shortage," Hew explained.

To this end, he believes that it may now be an opportune time for economies to consider eliminating or reducing tariffs on life-saving products, including face masks, hand soaps, sanitizers, and other personal protective equipment.

APEC represents 40.8 percent (US$404.5 billion) of the global import value of these essential medical goods and 28.8 percent (US$271.8 billion) of the global exports. More importantly, APEC economies occupy several of the top spots on the lists of importers and exporters of these items.

Such sector-specific tariff reductions are not new to APEC. Employing the ground-breaking APEC environmental goods initiative as a model, members could agree to an APEC-wide standstill and eventually phased elimination of all tariffs on such vital medical goods.

Furthermore, recognizing the role that APEC can play in this crisis, economies could commit to refraining from implementing trade-restrictive measures on such products even after the pandemic abates and maintain open supply lines.

APEC has been known to be an incubator of innovative good ideas that have influenced other multinational bodies — its environmental goods initiative, for instance, eventually figured into discussions in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Such a timely and life-saving trade liberalization initiative would send a positive signal to the rest of the world and contribute in steering the global response to the pandemic in the right direction. (ANTARA)

It is business as usual at the Poncol market in Jakarta in spite of large-scale social restrictions. (ANTARA/Livia Kristianti)

 The Jakarta provincial government is set to extend large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), which have been implemented in the city since April 10 to curb coronavirus transmissions.

"The number of coronavirus cases has continued to increase and (so) the Jakarta administration will extend large-scale social restrictions," the second chairman of the Jakarta COVID-19 Task Force, Catur Laswanto, said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

According to the COVID-19 official website, Jakarta had recorded 1,719 confirmed coronavirus cases on April 10, the first day of the implementation of large-scale social restrictions. The number has more than doubled to 3,399 as of Wednesday (April 22).

Deputy Chairman of the Jakarta Legislative Assembly (DPRD), Mohammad Taufik, has urged Governor Anies Baswedan to propose the extension of large-scale social restrictions to the Health Ministry amid fears the transmission of coronavirus in the capital will get worse unless the PSBB is extended.

"It (PSBB) must be extended. The number of people exposed to the virus has continued to increase although the recovery rate has also risen. Mr. Anies should propose the extension to the Health Ministry soon," Taufik said.

Large-scale social restrictions should be extended indefinitely or until the number of coronavirus cases declines, he added.

"Assistance should be distributed (while the large-scale social restrictions are in place). I think the Jakarta administration should be prepared for the long haul," he continued.

"The shorter the implementation (of the extended large-scale social restrictions), the better it will be. (Companies that are still operating) must be dealt with to ensure that the number of COVID-19 cases is curbed," he noted.

The Indonesian Government’s spokesperson for National COVID-19 Response, Achmad Yurianto, stated that as of Tuesday (April 21), 95 additional patients have recovered from COVID-19 in the country. The number of new cases stands at 375, while the death toll has reached 25.

“The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has reached 7,135, with 616 people dead, 186,330 people under monitoring (ODP), and 16,763 patients under surveillance (PDP)," Yurianto noted.

The Indonesian Government has declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency and imposed large-scale social distancing measures, especially in Jakarta, which has reported the highest number of cases, West Java, Central Java, and Riau Province. (ANTARA)

The Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) is collaborating with DBS Bank for increasing foreign investment into the country.

While signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bank DBS Indonesia in Jakarta on Wednesday, BKPM head Bahlil Lahadalia said he hoped the synergy of both parties would help encourage investment into the country.

"Through this cooperation, I hope we can work together to exchange information (about) what (we) can (do to) support each other to accelerate foreign investment into Indonesia," Bahlil Lahadalia said via a virtual conference.

The head of the Investment Coordinating Board said that both parties would collect data and analyze which potential investors can be approved immediately.

"I think after this (MoU signing) we will take a strategic step by looking at the data of DBS customers and their (interest) trends," Lahadalia informed.

Speaking at the MoU signing, president director of Bank DBS Indonesia, Paulus Sutisna, said that DBS, as one of the major banks in Asia, has a regional reach, which, he believes, would help not just in promoting, but also facilitating investment.

“(The collaboration would cover) Both foreign investment in Indonesia and the investment of business people to countries where DBS operates," he pointed out.

Paulus said he believes there is potential for successful cooperation because banks have close relationships with corporate customers and know their sectors, investment interests, and promising business opportunities.

"As a trusted business partner, banks can provide direction and accuracy to profitable investment opportunities," he noted. (ANTARA)